What Are Dewclaws? The dewclaw, also called the first digit, can be found on the inner (medial) side of the front (and sometimes back) legs above the weight-bearing joints. Dewclaws contain two bones: a proximal phalanx and a distal phalanx (similar to the structure of the human thumb).

Do dogs have 2 or 4 dewclaws?

Most dogs have four nails on each rear foot and five on their front feet. That extra nail on the upper, inner part of a dog's foot is the dewclaw. ... Have no fear, some dogs have dewclaws on their rear feet or even double dewclaws.

How many phalanges are on the dewclaw?

In the dog, the dewclaw contains two bones; a proximal phalanx and a distal phalanx. This is a similar structure to the human thumb, which also only contains two phalanges as well. There are no sesamoid bones in the dewclaw of a dog.